Hair of the Dog Doggie Claws (2003-)

Brewed by Hair of the Dog Brewing Company
Style: Barley Wine
Portland, Oregon USA

I liked it before I opened it just because of the name. It smells like caramel and generally like a barleywine except theres a lot of hops in the aroma also. Some alcohol. Thick creamy consistency. THe hops are big in the flavor too along with caramel, fruits, a bit of spice and general sweetness. The alcohol becomes noticeable in the finish. Its good.

2005 bottle. Pours a darkish orange amber to copper with an above average sized head, especially for a barleywine. The nose is rather faint. Light to caramel malt with an orangy herbal sweetness coming from the hops presumably. The mouthfeel is smooth and a s viscous as I expect a barleywine to be, with some light alcohol warming. The flavor is nice, though not the kick in the mouth I like from barleywines. Sweet malt, but nicely rounded out, and certainly not cloying. There’s balance from herbal hops (almost minty?) and some floral bits and a healthy dose of alcohol. There’s a hint of orange to tangerine in the finish, and the aftertaste follows similarly, though perhaps being a bit more tart. Really very clean, a nice beer indeed, but just didn’t quite compare to Fred (too high of a bar?).

12 oz bottle via Liquid Solutions. 2005 bottle. Pours a clear dark amber with a massive beige head. If you pour half a glass. The second half is hazy and full of yeast...never seem so much yeast in a glass, lol,,,,floaties all over. Nose actually seems more like an IIPA than a BarleyWine...very hoppy nose. Tastes like a sweet IIPA. Starts very sweet, lots of fruity esters and malts, a touch of wood...then turns hoppy and the piney hops continue on through the finish. Bittersweet aftertaste. Full bodied, almost syrupy mouthfeel. Good stuff as long as you like the Pac NW take on Barleywine (hoppy).

Bottle of ’03 batch sent by Kramer17801 in a trade. Pours opaque brown with a small fading tan head. The aroma is very rich, I can smell it while I’m pouring. A closer sniff reveals gingerbread, molasses, bark. The mouthfeel is thick and coating, this is not all that sweet. Notes of hickory, walnuts, tiny hints of cedar and pine, make up the big flavor. This finishes bittersweet, like baking chocolate with a plethora of dark spiced flavors. The alcohol is warming, but not that noticeable in the actual flavor profile. Great example of the style, I’m eager to try the fresher batch and see how that measures up. (Nov 5, ’06) Bottle of the ’04: This batch is 11.5%. Pours the same, nice and dense with a firm head and a sturdy brown hue. The lacing is thick. Comparing this glass to my review of the ’03 I think this one is a bit sweeter. It has a touch of vanilla and caramel sweetness with plenty of earthy notes. There’s a nice spiced finish. The alcohol is again completely hidden. A few brighter notes exist in this bottle, I can pick up touches of pine wood here and there. I think this bottle was a bit more solid by sporting just a touch more density, sweetness, and pleasing acidity. My score reflects the ’04 bottle.

Bottle, 2005. Pours a beautiful hazy amber with a thick, rocky light tan head. Aroma of resin, flowery hops and caramel and toffee malts. Very balanced. The aroma has my mouth watering and the flavor did not disappoint. Very balanced. More hops, resiny, flowery, piney and the malt balances it out nicely. Syrupy, caramel, toffee. Very smooth for the style, I find this style very harsh at times. One of the better ones I’ve had.

12 oz bottle, 2004 vintage, consumed Oct. 2006. Pours a deep garnet red colored body under a firm creamy one inch beige head that lasted forever. Moderate yeast sediment in bottle. Aroma is quite pungent and balanced between resiny hops and syrupy toffee malt. Some alcohol, candy sweetness, yeast, and minerals. Flavor has aged beautifully. Still quite bitter but not as in your face as fresh. Resiny and piney up front fading to light syrupy toffee maltiness with alcohol and light papery and soy oxidation notes. Mouthfeel is thick and full bodied but not cloying at all. Beautiful super soft fine carbonation. Finishes slightly sticky. Almost three years and this is aging wonderfully. I love it fresh, 1 year old, 3 years old, doesn’t matter. A very solid beer and a personal benchmark for the style.

This is one awesome barleywine. One of the best I’ve ever had. Very hoppy and just amazing smell on the nose. And the taste was well balaced and went down smooth. If you can get your hands on this, its well worth it.

2005 bottle via trade with AlohaC. Very nice aroma with a sweet hop smell that sent me to Nirvana. One of the best looking beers with a nice head and clear look that would make a good magazine cover shoot. Flavor is so well balanced I had to keep drinkiing it to experience it. Great brew that after a year still tasted so fresh. Cheers! Update: 2004 Bottle. Look was amazing. Aroma was very malty and less hops than the ’05. Very sweet taste with a dry aftertaste. Great brew.